Each year, the Department of Music at Southwestern gives away thousands of dollars in scholarship money to elite musicians. Music Festival Scholarships are awarded to talented juniors and seniors that are selected by Southwestern's music faculty. The faculty will select a number of students as scholarship finalists, which would include an invitation to perform at Southwestern's Showcase Concert on February 22, 2017 in Wharton Auditorium. The Department of Music will provide travel, food and lodging for all the scholarship finalists. In addition to the music scholarships and the performance at the Showcase Concert, all finalists have a chance to be selected to perform during Sunday evening's final concert at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, Texas. For more information please email Jonathan Wall, chairman Department of Music, at jwall@swau.edu. The application deadline is October 30th, 2016.

Hope Marchok, violin

Hope Marchok is a senior in high school. She has been homeschooled for all of her life. Her hobbies include basketball, playing music, and learning about basically everything. Violin came into her life at age three, and she has been taking lessons ever since. She began her studies at a small music school in Indiana and upon moving to Texas she began studying violin under Mrs. Nicolette Solomon, the director of the Suzuki Music Institute of Dallas. In 2006, she began studying piano with Dr. Bret Serrin also at the SMID. In addition, Hope has studied Music Theory with Dr. Carl Van Wyk since 2005 and plays in a small group of advanced strings at the school. The ensemble has had many wonderful performance opportunities over the years. They opened for Cindi Lauper at a Children's Medical Center benefit, and they are planning on touring in Spain this spring. Hope is also working part time at Periodontics and Implants Center of Mckinney as a sterile tech. She is honored to be able to participate in this event.

Isabeau Wrasse, piano

Isabeau June Wrasse is a 16 year old senior in high school, and is very excited to be participating in the Music Festival! Isa has been playing piano since the age of five, and started playing the guitar about 3 years ago. She enjoy singing and loves using these God-given talents for Him whenever she gets a the chance. Isa has been homeschooled all her life, and is very excited to be attending Southwestern Adventist University this coming fall. God has blessed Isa with a wonderful family and amazing friends who have supported her all my life. She says, "Things aren't always easy, but God always reminds me that I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

Kenny Balinao, piano

Kenny Balinao is 17 years old and a senior at Chisholm Trail Academy in Keene, TX. Although he was born in Indiana, he has spent most of his life in Midland, Texas. Kenny began playing the piano when he was four years old and currently is employed as the pianist for the choir at CTA. In his spare time, Kenny enjoys playing tennis, the ukulele, and various video games. He is also an avid Washington Redskins fan and enjoys watching just about any sport. He has yet to decide what field of study he wants to pursue as a profession, but with college in the near future, he plans on deciding soon.

Kyle Dellosa, violin

Kyle Dellosa is a junior at Chisholm Trail Academy in Keene, Texas. Kyle started taking violin lessons at age 5 with Janet Melnicoff-Brown at the Peabody Conservatory Preparatory Division in Baltimore Maryland. His subsequent teachers were Swiatoslaw Kuznik, Oksana Sifri, Edgar Valenzuela and currently Dr. Marc Élysée. He regularly participates in University of North Texas Summer Orchestra Camp. Last summer, Kyle attended the UNT String Institute with Dr. Felix Oschofska and the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Summer Music Camp to take voice lessons with Dr. David Robinson. He loves to travel with his family and had the opportunity to visit Mozart's birthplace in Salzburg, Austria and see for himself the violin Mozart used when he was a child. He has also attended his mother, Lerie Dellosa, in her organ endeavors including an organ tour through Europe and Philippine Organ research. His father is a Family practice Physician with Texas health Resources (formerly Huguley Medical). Kyle is currently the CTA Junior class president, a member of CTA Blazer tennis team, the Southwestern Symphony Orchestra, CTA Choir and String Orchestra.

2014

Trent Muse, piano

Trent Muse has played the piano for most of his life. During his sophomore year of High School at Chisholm Trail Academy, his passion for music reignited when he was given the opportunity to be the pianist for choir. Then, in 2014, he decided to audition for the Meyerson Festival Scholarship, and became a finalist. Now, as a freshman music major, he plays piano for the Southwestern University Singers.

"This scholarship gave me the opportunity to come to Southwestern where I got the job playing for the University Singers. I also play for churches and worship services. I look forward to these experiences every day."

At this point, Muse is not sure what he plans to pursue as a career, but is confident that God will guide him. "I just want to share my love and passion for music with others, however God wants me to do that."

Jennifer Ramirez, contralto

Growing up, Jennifer Ramirez never believed that she could sing. In middle school a teacher convinced her to join choir, and from there her love of music grew. Now she is a 2014 Meyerson Scholarship Finalist and freshman at Southwestern.

"This scholarship allowed me to attend Southwestern where everyone has become family. Here, I can sing and show others who my Savior is through my music."

Ramirez auditioned for the scholarship during her senior year at Chisholm Trail Academy because she thought it would be a fun challenge. Other friends had gone before her, but Ramirez didn't expect to be a finalist. The opportunity enabled her to improve musically and better use her talents for God. She now sings in the Southwestern University Singers and often shares special music or sings in praise team.

Ramirez plans to be a lawyer so she can continue to use her voice for God.

"I want to be the voice for those when no one else will hear them."

Mitchell Won, organ

Dana Wilson, violin

Italo Opazo, viola

2013

Denielle Wilson, cello

Jonathan Penrod, trombone

Krystal George, soprano

Erika Martinez, flute

When Erika Martinez plays the flute, you can clearly see her passion for music. That passion drove her to audition and become a Meyerson Festival Scholarship Finalist, twice! She received the scholarship for flute in both 2012 and 2013. "Not too many high school students can say they performed at the Meyerson. And now to be on the other side, prepping for this event and helping the high school students prepare: it's a wonderful experience!"

Martinez attended Valley Grande Academy, where she played in the band, choir, and handbell choir. During 6th grade she began with piano lessons. After watching a band program, Martinez started asking her mom for flute lessons. Now, as a sophomore music major, she is a member of the Southwestern Symphony Orchestra, Southwestern Wind Symphony, and Southwestern University Singers.

Ultimately, Martinez wants to perform as the first flute for a major symphony orchestra. Her next step after graduation will be to enroll in grad school or at a conservatory and study under a major symphony orchestra flutist. "Someday I'll play at the Meyerson as a professional."

2012

Eliann Reinhardt, violin

Ivana Ticar, soprano

Ivana Ticar chose Southwestern Adventist University for her faith. After enrolling at a non-Adventist university, Ticar began to question if she was going the right direction. She auditioned for the Meyerson Festival Scholarship as a soloist and upon acceptance as a finalist, Ticar officially decided to attend Southwestern.

Ticar started voice lessons at just five years old and piano lessons in third grade. She enjoys singing with her younger sister, and performed for 3ABN. While attending academy at The Oaks (Adventist Christian School), she played piano for choir. Now she is a sophomore music major and plays in the Southwestern Wind Symphony and Southwestern Symphony Orchestra.

"Even though I had taken many years of voice lessons, I still didn't think I was a good enough singer," said Ticar. "Becoming a scholarship finalist boosted my confidence. It made a significant difference in my life."

Peter Choque, violin

In 2012, as a Chisholm Trail Academy senior, Peter Choque was a Music Festival Scholarship Finalist on the violin for the Meyerson Music Festival. Today he plays the violin at Southwestern, and is active with the Southwestern Symphony Orchestra as well as the string quartet.

"I participated in Southwestern's music festival for 7 years but being a finalist gave me new responsibilities as a mentor," says Choque. "I would be in a different place without this scholarship."

In his fifth-grade music class, Choque began to take violin lessons. The interest in violin continues into his college studies. Although Choque is a nursing major, he makes time for music as much as possible.

"I really like the music program at Southwestern because they seemed to care about everyone," says Choque. "It doesn't matter if you're not a music major."

When he thinks about his future, Choque is not sure what the exact plan is, but he trusts that God will make the path clear. "Originally, I wanted to be a doctor here in the states but I think God is calling me to be a missionary. I still don't know where, but the plan is to go wherever God leads me."

Erika Martinez, flute

Denielle Wilson, cello

Reuben Hall, violin

2011

Halla Kalmansson, soprano

Elaine McDonald, contralto

Leslie Castellanos, soprano

Eliann Reinhardt, violin

Iago Fernandes, classical guitar

Jean-Paul Fernandes, classical guitar

Edwin Choque, cello

Edwin Choque is a senior nursing major with a gift for the cello. As a former student and orchestra member of Keene Adventist Elementary School and Chisholm Trail Academy, Adventist education and music have been a huge part of his life. He chose Southwestern to continue that tradition. Choque received the music festival scholarship in 2011, as well as other scholarships in music and academics.

Choque is a member of the Southwestern Symphony Orchestra, Southwestern String Quartet and of the soccer team. Now a senior, he continues to maintain a high grade average. According to Choque, the key to balancing academics, music, and athletics is prioritizing and time management.

"If there's a big test coming up, you have to plan ahead and start studying," Choque says. "But it's still good to take a break, and you can use your practice or game as your break time. Music stimulates the brain; exercising helps your blood circulate. Then you can go back to your studying afterwards. Even if the test is the next day, just cramming and studying the night before is not the best way to study for a big test. You have to manage your time and start studying in advance, and then you have the time to take your break from studying and go to practice."